MP from New Zealand expelled from Parliament again for labeling rivals as lacking backbone regarding Gaza issue
Chloë Swarbrick Ejected from Parliament for Second Time Over Israel-Palestine Debate
In an unprecedented turn of events, Chloë Swarbrick, co-leader of New Zealand’s Green Party, was ejected from Parliament on Wednesday for refusing to apologize for calling government lawmakers spineless during a debate about a Palestinian state.
The incident occurred amid an urgent parliamentary debate triggered by the Government’s announcement that it would consider recognizing Palestine as a state in September. Swarbrick’s bill, supported by opposition parties, sought formal sanctions against Israel for its actions in Gaza, which has drawn international criticism and legal cases at global courts.
The debate in Parliament was about recognizing an independent Palestinian state, with opponents rebuking the government for not moving to do so. Swarbrick, in her impassioned speech, urged government politicians to join her in a proposal to sanction Israel, which currently wouldn’t have enough votes to pass into law.
When Swarbrick said, "If we can find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history," Speaker Gerry Brownlee deemed the comment “completely unacceptable” and ordered her to withdraw and apologize. Swarbrick refused, leading to her ejection from the debating chamber.
The Speaker took the rare step of taking a vote to "name" Swarbrick for her misconduct, a ruling that means a legislator is formally suspended with their pay docked. The vote passed, with all government lawmakers endorsing it.
This is not the first time Swarbrick has been ejected from Parliament. On Tuesday, she was ejected for a speech in which she called for government lawmakers "with a spine" to endorse her proposal for New Zealand to impose sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza. She was given a three-day ban from Parliament, but returned the next day only to be ejected a second time.
The incident has sparked controversy, with opposition lawmakers claiming that Swarbrick's penalty is unusually severe, citing examples of other lawmakers who have escaped punishment for similar offenses. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins said it was unprecedented for a lawmaker to be ejected from Parliament for a second day over the same offense.
The political implications are significant. Swarbrick and the Greens have positioned themselves as pushing for New Zealand to adopt a more assertive stance aligned with public sentiments demanding action on the Gaza conflict and Palestinian statehood, challenging the more cautious approach of the centre-right government. The Speaker’s hardening stance against such confrontational parliamentary behaviour reflects the sensitivity surrounding this issue within New Zealand’s political establishment.
The event has attracted international attention, highlighting New Zealand’s ongoing debate about its role and values in international human rights and conflict resolution, especially regarding the Middle East. Countries including France, Britain, and Canada are expected to recognize a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made his most strident rebuke yet of Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israel leader "has lost the plot" on the "human catastrophe" in Gaza.
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